AROUND TOWN FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2010 Guts and glory

Spring Scream Tiger is the festival’s 16th edition, and features some 200 music, DJ and theater acts. Organizer and co-founder Jimi Moe tells the ‘ Times’ how the annual showcase of the country’s best bands picks the lineup

by David Staff Reporter

his year Spring Scream (春天吶喊) is sweet with a half-decent demo could land a spot at the choose and rank 20 of their favorite bands on the sixteen. The indie music festival has grown festival. This is no longer the case as Spring Scream Spring Scream Web site, which provided direct up to become an annual pilgrimage for the has grown in popularity and is now considered a links to the Indievox band pages. country’s college students, party-minded rite of passage for any aspiring rock ’n’ roll band in “We’re really trying to be democratic,” said T expats and music fans. . Nowadays, an average of 500 performers Moe, who says the voting system helps Spring The Clippers. The event, which begins tonight and takes apply for the 200 stage slots available. Scream realize one of its ideals. “Since the very place at the Oluanpi Lighthouse National Park Performers are chosen with the help of a beginning, we’ve always said that the sponsors (鵝鑾鼻燈塔公園), features some of Taiwan’s rising seven-person “panel,” which includes Moe, Davis are the fans. The fans buy the tickets. And we’ve stars and best indie bands, with nearly 200 acts and friends and acquaintances representing really tried to empower them and give them

Photo scheduled to perform on seven stages. “different musical tastes.” The panel assigns a some say in the matter of what it is that we’re Courtesy Spring Scream Tiger won’t have a headline score to each band. doing.” act to match last year’s edition, which featured But the panel is only one part of the process. The VIP voters will also be deciding cash of Aldgazdfhzdrs pop-diva A-mei (阿妹), whose gig organizers say Another group plays an important role in deciding prizes for the “most anticipated band.” The band attracted over 5,000 people. who performs at Spring Scream: the festivalgoers. that receives the most votes and the highest But this year’s lineup is one of the festival’s Spring Scream launched an online voting rankings gets NT$50,000, with additional prizes of best, says co-founder Jimi Moe, who believes many system last year, but Moe and Davis found that NT$10,000 each going to five runners-up. of the performers are going to be “future stars.” Internet-savvy bands could game the system by This year’s performers include pop-punk band If past performance is anything to go by, Moe having their friends cast repeat votes. And since Circus (Circus 樂團), hip-hop group Daximen (大 could be right. Some of Taiwan’s biggest pop acts anyone could vote, the votes didn’t necessarily 囍門), as well as The Clippers (夾子電動大樂隊), today — Mayday (五月天), Cheer Chen (陳綺貞) and reflect the opinions of the people who actually a favorite from past Spring Screams. Several Sodagreen (蘇打綠) — played at the festival before went to Spring Scream, said Moe. international acts are also scheduled, including they achieved big-time success. This year the festival only accepted votes South Korean rock and hip-hop band Nevada 51, Spring Scream has come a long way from its from “VIPs” — people who bought advance which performed last year, UK hip-hop group Lazy DIY roots. Moe and co-founder Wade Davis, both tickets through the festival’s partner, Indievox Habits and French house DJ Hanna Hais. musicians themselves, started the event in 1995 (www.indievox.com), a Web site where indie In addition to live music, there will also be so their band could play for friends and fans at bands create their own profile pages from which food stalls, games and a film stage run by the the beach. The event quickly caught on with local to sell music. Urban Nomad Film Fest. musicians and the expat community, and became All bands applying to play this year had to a platform for the underground music scene. set up an account on Indievox and post samples For tips and travel information for this year’s In the early years, it used to be that any band of their music. Each VIP voter was allowed to Spring Scream, see Page 14.

Matzka and Di Hot (馬斯卡和辣肉樂團) simply want to rock out. Chinese instruments, but Zenkwun uses them This dreadlocked Paiwan (排灣) musician is particularly well in its brand of pop-rock. Go Chic. Photo Courtesy of Go Chic guaranteed to please sun-soaked crowds with Elisa Lin (林依霖) Listeners will hear strains of nanguan (南北) and a unique blend of reggae, hard rock, soul and Elisa Lin is one to watch. This young folk Hakka music in the sounds of the erhu (二胡) and Aboriginal folk. Don’t be surprised to find rocker looks as if she’s already being groomed suona horn (嗩吶) laced between electric guitar yourself humming his catchiest song, Ma Do Va for Mando-pop stardom, but her original riffs and loud drums. And how can you not like a Do (像狗一樣), long after the show. songwriting and soulful voice keep things real. band whose lead singer named himself (Obiwan, www.indievox.com/matzka She often performs with IO, a group of talented 歐比王) after Obi Wan Kenobi? Chinese Canadian rockers that won ICRT’s Battle www.indievox.com/obiwan1103 Daximen (大囍門) of the Bands last year. This hip-hop outfit of three MCs raps in Mandarin www.myspace.com/elisa010 Milk and Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese) Festivalgoers who keep track of Spring Scream against a backdrop of funky beats and jazz riffs. 88 Balaz (八十八顆芭樂籽) history will welcome the return of Milk, one Daximen’s sound and rhymes lean mainstream This four-piece band’s punk-inspired garage rock of the most beloved and storied expat bands but stay clear of Mando-pop territory. is a perfect match for Spring Scream’s “let loose” in Taiwan. The group is back after a hiatus of www.indievox.com/mrbrownchen ethos. Lead singer Ah-Chang (阿強) probably several years. won’t be stage-diving into the crowd on a bicycle theroamads.blogspot.com/2007/07/tribute- Celluloid (賽璐璐) like he did during his first time at the festival, but to-great-taiwan-band-milk.html Another veteran band from Spring Scream’s that same energy will be present. early days, Celluoid plays blues and garage balaz88.pixnet.net The Money Shot Horns Hanna Hais. rock. The band might lack the style and sheen The Money Shot Horns are a crowd pleaser.  Photo Courtesy of younger groups on the underground circuit Zenkwun (神棍樂團) Their brand of funk, groovy soul and R ’n’ B  of Spring Scream today, but it always delivers for audiences that Plenty of bands experiment with traditional appeals to many, thanks to charming lead singer Dooley Chandler. His magnetic stage presence and the talented musicians in the band form a lasso that pulls you onto the dance floor from the very first note. Hanna Hais www.myspace.com/themoneyshothorns House music fans will want to catch this French DJ, who’s lauded for her good taste in beats and My Skin Against Your Skin sultry voice. Hais, who was invited to Taiwan by Molly Lin, Dr Reniculous My Skin Against Your Skin has given Andrea the French Institute in Taipei, performs at the DJ Lipz and the Scallyunz . Huang (黃盈誼) room to grow from her days stage tomorrow and Sunday. Photo COurtesy of Steve Vigar as the head-thrashing lead singer of Rabbit Is www.myspace.com/hannahais Rich (兔子很有錢) into a performer with a wider repertoire. She still punks out, but now also Lazy Habits delves into smoky blues-rock vocals reminiscent Hip-hop with big band soul and a British of another queen of disquietude, PJ Harvey. accent: Lazy Habits are from East London. www.myspace.com/myskinagainstyourskin You’ll even hear a little mariachi in the mix. This eight-piece group, armed with two deft MCs, a Go Chic scratch DJ and a jazz band, is a sure-fire party Go Chic takes chick power to the nth degree waiting to happen. with irreverent but relevant lyrics written from www.myspace.com/lazyhabits the point of view of modern youth. Hilarious, dangerous and fun, the band takes the piss out The Clippers (夾子電動大樂隊) of everyone from culture vultures to foreign The Clippers were one of Taiwan’s most men, and redefines the “Asian girl” stereotype in memorable bands during Spring Scream’s early the process. days. Fans loved the dancing girls on stage and www.myspace.com/gochictheband the group’s mix of rock, dated karaoke music and social satire. The band returns to Spring Scream Dr Reniculous Lipz and the Scallyunz with a few new members, but expect the same With catchy, fun and wacky rhythms and lyrics campy humor from lead singer and actor Xiao and rhymes that tickle the brain, Dr Reniculous Ying (小應), who recently enjoyed a little stardom Lipz and the Scallyunz are a bit like Dr Seuss for in the hit movie Cape No. 7 (海角七號). grown-ups. Add a rocking live band (with bassist obaigonn.pixnet.net/blog Molly Lin (林孟珊), who occasionally dresses as a nurse), and you have a treat for the eyes, ears Ciacia (何欣穗) and feet. As one of the most talented singer-songwriters in www.myspace.com/theskallyunz Taiwan’s indie scene, not to mention a producer with a keen ear, Ciacia is always worth a listen. www.myspace.com/ciacia.her continued on page 14